the blog with bass

This Errol ‘Flabba’ Holt twelve is one of those serious ‘must haves’ and a definite early contender for re-release of the year. It’s a dark dread take on Dawn Penn’s ‘You Don’t Love Me’ and features a bass line that could shatter the gates of hell. The track is special in so many ways, not just because of the musicians who played on it, but as a timeless reggae standard.

Released by US label Ohm Records Inc. ‘Yes Yes Yes’ and the flip ‘Sweet Reggae Music’ were both originally issued as separate singles in 1979. The tracks were some of the first output from the musical collective, The Roots Radics Band. The Radics had joined together as one unit just a year prior to recording these songs and their catalogue of collaborations has influenced the direction of reggae over the last forty years.

As well as Holt, the sessions included reggae royalty such as Eric ‘Bingy Bunny’ Lamont, Lincoln ‘Style’ Scott, Noel ‘Sowell’ Bailey, Dwight Pickney, Christopher ‘Sky Juice’ Blake / Burth, Noel ‘Scully’ Simms, and the late great Gladstone Anderson. They all contributed to the Radics sound and set them firmly as Jamaica’s premier backing band.

For those in the US you can pick up the single direct from Ohm, but if you are UK or Europe bassheads Reggae Roots Review has secured some copies of this limited edition 12. Drop me a line at paperlion@outlook.com if you would like a copy, cost is £14 + postage or check my eBay listing.